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| Republicans release list of Obama officials who sought to 'unmask' Flynn, including Biden – live | Republicans release list of Obama officials who sought to 'unmask' Flynn, including Biden – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| James Comey, Samantha Power and James Clapper among officials on list Trump’s acting director of national intelligence sent to Republican senators | James Comey, Samantha Power and James Clapper among officials on list Trump’s acting director of national intelligence sent to Republican senators |
| Coronavirus could sweep through camps where firefighting crews are stationed, ready to fight wildfires, according to a federal document obtained by The Associated Press. | |
| From the AP: | |
| After a bitter political battle complicated and constrained by the pandemic, Garcia’s win was a blow for Democrats who in 2018 had secured the suburban Los Angeles district for the first time in since 1990. But the candidates will soon have a rematch. Garcia will serve only five months before the seat is up for a vote again in November. | |
| In the election based almost entirely on mailed-in ballots amid stay-at-home orders due to the coronavirus pandemic, the full results likely won’t be clear for days. Officials will accept ballots postmarked by election day, even if they arrive up to three days later. | |
| Special elections are usually plagued with low voter turnout, though early numbers indicated that more people voted in this election than expected. All registered voters were automatically mailed a ballot, making this election a test case for November. California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, recently announced that all Californians would have the option to mail in their ballots during the general election, amid uncertainty over how long the coronavirus crisis will limit people’s ability to safely leave their homes. | |
| But it is wise to avoid projecting too much about the November elections based on this race, said Paul Mitchell, with the campaign research firm Political Data Inc. “To do so would be like predicting the championship based on the results of two-on-two basketball game before the finals,” Mitchell said. He expects the same district will have 80% turnout in November, compared with less than half of that in the special election. | |
| As victory appeared assured in California’s special congressional election , Mike Garcia said his campaign’s “message of lower taxes and ensuring we don’t take liberal Sacramento dysfunction to Washington prevailed”. | |
| This is Garcia’s first time taking public office. He ran unencumbered by a voting record, on a typically conservative platform. Though Democrats tried to paint him as a mini-Trump, Garcia more closely aligns with a new guard of young, moderate Republicans the party has sent out to woo the typically blue state. “California Republicans have to learn to adapt to the local climate,” said Bill Whalen, a Republican campaign strategist based in Sacramento. Garcia’s victory may not guarantee he’ll win a rematch against Smith in November, but it does give him a leg up, Whalen said. | |
| Garcia’s opponent Christy Smith, a state assembly member, lost despite earning the endorsements of Barack Obama and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Hill’s unpopularity in the district, post-scandal, was a hurdle. Prior to the election, the Cook Political Report changed its assessment of the race from “lean Democratic” to a “tossup” as the pandemic shut down traditional campaigning through door-knocking and town halls. Despite the challenges of campaigning, Democrats are still hopeful about Smith’s chances in the general election. “The electorate will be very different then,” said Rose Kapolczynski, a Democratic strategist based in Los Angeles. “And I still think Smith will have a strong chance.” | |
| Joe Biden’s campaign has responded to Republicans’ list of former Obama officials believed to be involved in efforts to “unmask” ousted national security advisor Michael Flynn. | Joe Biden’s campaign has responded to Republicans’ list of former Obama officials believed to be involved in efforts to “unmask” ousted national security advisor Michael Flynn. |
| Biden along with other officials, including former FBI director James Comey and former director of national intelligence James Clapper were included in the list that Trump’s acting director of national intelligence Richard Grenell sent Republican senators. | Biden along with other officials, including former FBI director James Comey and former director of national intelligence James Clapper were included in the list that Trump’s acting director of national intelligence Richard Grenell sent Republican senators. |
| “These documents simply indicate the breadth and depth of concern across the American government — including among career officials — over intelligence reports of Michael Flynn’s attempts to undermine ongoing American national security policy through discussions with Russian officials or other foreign representatives,” said Andrew Bates, a Biden campaign spokesperson. He continued: | “These documents simply indicate the breadth and depth of concern across the American government — including among career officials — over intelligence reports of Michael Flynn’s attempts to undermine ongoing American national security policy through discussions with Russian officials or other foreign representatives,” said Andrew Bates, a Biden campaign spokesperson. He continued: |
| The coronavirus that causes Covid-19 could become endemic like HIV, the World Health Organization has said, warning against any attempt to predict how long it would keep circulating and calling for a “massive effort” to counter it. The organization’s emergencies expert, Mike Ryan, said: | The coronavirus that causes Covid-19 could become endemic like HIV, the World Health Organization has said, warning against any attempt to predict how long it would keep circulating and calling for a “massive effort” to counter it. The organization’s emergencies expert, Mike Ryan, said: |
| However, he said the world had some control over how it copes with the disease, although this would take a “massive effort” even if a vaccine was found – a prospect he described as a “massive moonshot”. | However, he said the world had some control over how it copes with the disease, although this would take a “massive effort” even if a vaccine was found – a prospect he described as a “massive moonshot”. |
| More than 100 potential vaccines are being developed, including several in clinical trials, but experts have underscored the difficulties of finding vaccines that are effective against coronaviruses. | More than 100 potential vaccines are being developed, including several in clinical trials, but experts have underscored the difficulties of finding vaccines that are effective against coronaviruses. |
| Ryan noted that vaccines exist for other illnesses, such as measles, that have not been eliminated. | |
| Are children less susceptible to coronavirus? | Are children less susceptible to coronavirus? |
| There is now a wealth of evidence that children generally experience milder symptoms when they are infected – although there have been rare cases of children becoming seriously ill or even dying. However, it is not yet clear whether they have a lower chance of catching Covid-19. Although fewer children have been picked up in national testing programs, this could be due to fewer being tested. During the early phase of the epidemic in Europe, adult travelers played a dominant role in seeding infections, which also meant, purely for circumstantial reasons, that children would have played a less significant role in spreading infections. | There is now a wealth of evidence that children generally experience milder symptoms when they are infected – although there have been rare cases of children becoming seriously ill or even dying. However, it is not yet clear whether they have a lower chance of catching Covid-19. Although fewer children have been picked up in national testing programs, this could be due to fewer being tested. During the early phase of the epidemic in Europe, adult travelers played a dominant role in seeding infections, which also meant, purely for circumstantial reasons, that children would have played a less significant role in spreading infections. |
| Studies on this question give a mixed picture. One analysis, in the Lancet Infectious Diseases, of households with confirmed Covid-19 in Shenzhen, China, found that children younger than ten were just as likely as adults to get infected. However, there is other evidence from South Korea, Italy, and Iceland suggesting lower infection rates among children. Some of the difference could also be down to differences in social mixing. | Studies on this question give a mixed picture. One analysis, in the Lancet Infectious Diseases, of households with confirmed Covid-19 in Shenzhen, China, found that children younger than ten were just as likely as adults to get infected. However, there is other evidence from South Korea, Italy, and Iceland suggesting lower infection rates among children. Some of the difference could also be down to differences in social mixing. |
| Why do children react differently to adults? | Why do children react differently to adults? |
| For many infectious diseases, there is a U-shaped risk curve, with the youngest and oldest in society being most vulnerable. Covid-19 does not follow this pattern – even toddlers and newborn babies typically only experience mild symptoms. One theory is that children’s lungs might contain fewer of the ACE2 receptors that the virus uses to enter cells. To confirm this, researchers would need to study tissue samples from children. Another possibility is that children’s immune systems respond in a more optimal way to the virus – mounting a strong enough response to get rid of the infection, but without going into overdrive and flooding the body with inflammatory proteins, which are known to sometimes cause problems in adult patients. | For many infectious diseases, there is a U-shaped risk curve, with the youngest and oldest in society being most vulnerable. Covid-19 does not follow this pattern – even toddlers and newborn babies typically only experience mild symptoms. One theory is that children’s lungs might contain fewer of the ACE2 receptors that the virus uses to enter cells. To confirm this, researchers would need to study tissue samples from children. Another possibility is that children’s immune systems respond in a more optimal way to the virus – mounting a strong enough response to get rid of the infection, but without going into overdrive and flooding the body with inflammatory proteins, which are known to sometimes cause problems in adult patients. |
| Are children invisible transmitters? | Are children invisible transmitters? |
| Asymptomatic transmission is known to play an important role in the spread of Covid-19 – studies have shown that in general people appear to be at their most infectious in the day or so before symptoms start. This raises the question of whether children are silent spreaders of the virus. A recent German study, which compared the viral load of nearly 4,000 people aged from one to 100 years old, added weight to this idea. It found that regardless of age, people appeared to shed a similar level of virus, suggesting they could be equally infectious. However, a caveat is that the study did not measure real-life transmission in children. As schools reopen and community transmission is tracked closely in some European countries, a clearer answer on this is likely to emerge in the coming months. | Asymptomatic transmission is known to play an important role in the spread of Covid-19 – studies have shown that in general people appear to be at their most infectious in the day or so before symptoms start. This raises the question of whether children are silent spreaders of the virus. A recent German study, which compared the viral load of nearly 4,000 people aged from one to 100 years old, added weight to this idea. It found that regardless of age, people appeared to shed a similar level of virus, suggesting they could be equally infectious. However, a caveat is that the study did not measure real-life transmission in children. As schools reopen and community transmission is tracked closely in some European countries, a clearer answer on this is likely to emerge in the coming months. |
| Per White House press pool reporters, the president also called Dr. Anthony Fauci’s message yesterday cautioning against opening schools too soon “unacceptable”. | Per White House press pool reporters, the president also called Dr. Anthony Fauci’s message yesterday cautioning against opening schools too soon “unacceptable”. |
| “I was surprised by his answer,” Trump said. “To me it’s not an acceptable answer especially when it comes to schools.” | “I was surprised by his answer,” Trump said. “To me it’s not an acceptable answer especially when it comes to schools.” |
| Yesterday, the top public health official contradicted Trump, who urged schools and businesses to reopen and said the White House has set a target of having 100m vaccine doses by the autumn. Fauci disputed that timeline, indicating that neither a vaccine nor treatment could be developed and distributed in time to facilitate the reopening of schools in the fall. | Yesterday, the top public health official contradicted Trump, who urged schools and businesses to reopen and said the White House has set a target of having 100m vaccine doses by the autumn. Fauci disputed that timeline, indicating that neither a vaccine nor treatment could be developed and distributed in time to facilitate the reopening of schools in the fall. |
| “I think they should open the schools, absolutely,” the president said. “I think they should. It’s had very little impact on young people. And I think that if you’re an instructor, if you’re a teacher, a professor over a certain age like let’s say 65 or maybe even if you want to be conservative, 60, perhaps you want to stay out for a little while longer. But I think you should absolutely open the schools. Our country has got to get back and it’s got to get back as soon as possible, and I don’t consider our country coming back if the schools are closed.” | “I think they should open the schools, absolutely,” the president said. “I think they should. It’s had very little impact on young people. And I think that if you’re an instructor, if you’re a teacher, a professor over a certain age like let’s say 65 or maybe even if you want to be conservative, 60, perhaps you want to stay out for a little while longer. But I think you should absolutely open the schools. Our country has got to get back and it’s got to get back as soon as possible, and I don’t consider our country coming back if the schools are closed.” |
| Hi there, it’s Maanvi Singh — blogging from the West Coast. | Hi there, it’s Maanvi Singh — blogging from the West Coast. |
| Donald Trump told reporters that he’s missing Mike Pence. | Donald Trump told reporters that he’s missing Mike Pence. |
| Trump was speaking with the officials from North Dakota and Colorado in the White House Cabinet Room, where reporters were also present. | Trump was speaking with the officials from North Dakota and Colorado in the White House Cabinet Room, where reporters were also present. |
| Here’s what has happened so far today: | Here’s what has happened so far today: |
| Republicans released a list of officials, including Joe Biden, who “unmasked” – a term used to describe the routine process of revealing an individual who took part of a conversation subject to surveillance – former national security advisor Michael Flynn. | Republicans released a list of officials, including Joe Biden, who “unmasked” – a term used to describe the routine process of revealing an individual who took part of a conversation subject to surveillance – former national security advisor Michael Flynn. |
| A Democrat candidate in a special House election in California conceded to her Republican opponent, flipping the district from blue to red. | A Democrat candidate in a special House election in California conceded to her Republican opponent, flipping the district from blue to red. |
| Though the politics of the day may suggest a feeling of normalcy, coronavirus is still in the news. Yellowstone National Park announced that it will experiment with a partial reopen. | Though the politics of the day may suggest a feeling of normalcy, coronavirus is still in the news. Yellowstone National Park announced that it will experiment with a partial reopen. |
| The New York attorney general announced an investigation into whether NYPD has been equally enforcing social distancing measures across the city after reports of racial discrepancies in arrests. | The New York attorney general announced an investigation into whether NYPD has been equally enforcing social distancing measures across the city after reports of racial discrepancies in arrests. |
| A Republican candidate just won a special election in California’s 25th Congressional District. The House district was formerly represented by Democrat Katie Hill, who stepped down after she was accused of having a relationship with a staffer and nude photos of her were published online. | A Republican candidate just won a special election in California’s 25th Congressional District. The House district was formerly represented by Democrat Katie Hill, who stepped down after she was accused of having a relationship with a staffer and nude photos of her were published online. |
| Democrat candidate Christy Smith, a former school board member, conceded this afternoon to Mike Garcia, a former Navy pilot and defense contractor. Garcia will serve the rest of Hill’s term, which goes until the end of the year, and will have to run again in November. | Democrat candidate Christy Smith, a former school board member, conceded this afternoon to Mike Garcia, a former Navy pilot and defense contractor. Garcia will serve the rest of Hill’s term, which goes until the end of the year, and will have to run again in November. |
| The district in Southern California has flipped between Democrat and Republican over the last few years. The district voted for Republican Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election, but voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. Hill took the seat of a Republican incumbent in the 2018 midterm elections. | The district in Southern California has flipped between Democrat and Republican over the last few years. The district voted for Republican Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election, but voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. Hill took the seat of a Republican incumbent in the 2018 midterm elections. |
| Whether this special election can be used as a litmus test for the possibilities of what’s to come in November is unclear as special elections tend to have lower turnout. | Whether this special election can be used as a litmus test for the possibilities of what’s to come in November is unclear as special elections tend to have lower turnout. |